Emergency ballast for compact fluorescent lamp with battery heater

ABSTRACT

An emergency ballast for a compact fluorescent lamp including a heater disposed adjacent the battery for maintaining the battery at a safe and effective operating temperature during the time which the lamp is powered by the normal AC power supply. Additionally, the ballast includes a charging control circuit which precludes charging of the battery when normal AC power is supplied to the ballast charging circuit during the time when the battery is below a temperature for safe and effective charging. The output of the emergency ballast provides supplemental cathode heating to improve the operating performance of the compact lamp in severely low temperature emergency operation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation in part of, and claims benefit of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/427,462, file May 1, 2003, issuing as U.S. Pat. No. 6,753,651, to be issued Jun. 22, 2004; and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/376,864, filed May 1, 2002; and all of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to emergency lighting, and particularly to fluorescent lighting wherein a fluorescent lamp is connected to a source of electrical energy other than normal AC line current in the event that the normal AC current fails.

Emergency lighting is required in commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings just as fire extinguishers, smoke alarms and other safety equipment. Three types of emergency lighting are common in such installations: unit equipment, engine generators and central battery systems. Unit equipment falls into two principle types: fluorescent and incandescent.

The fluorescent emergency units are customarily combined with and within a conventional fluorescent lighting unit by merely adding the emergency ballast consisting of a battery, a battery charger, inverter and sensing circuitry adjacent the standard fluorescent AC ballast. The sensing circuit of the emergency ballast observes the interruption of normal AC power to the lamp unit and immediately switches on the emergency ballast to power individual lamp(s) or the light fixture for the required period which, under most state safety codes, is a period of at least ninety (90) minutes, a standard called out in the National Electrical Code, NFPA Article 70, and NFPA Article 101 Light Safety Code.

2. General Background of the Invention

U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,953 entitled Emergency Lighting Ballast for Compact Fluorescent Lamps with Integral Starters, assigned to the assignee of the present invention is illustrative of the general fluorescent type of emergency lighting with a ballast and also illustrates a compact fluorescent lamp. It is common in the installation of emergency fluorescent lighting that an emergency ballast is added to a conventional fluorescent fixture or provided integrally in a fixture having internal regular and emergency ballast installed. When main AC power fails, voltage sensing circuitry instantly connects DC current from a battery (in the emergency ballast) to an inverter which produces high frequency, high voltage power to illuminate the emergency fluorescent lamp(s) for the required period.

The present invention is directed to fluorescent lighting fixtures which are likely to be exposed to extreme low temperatures wherein the battery which supplies the power for lighting when main AC power fails is apt to freeze. Until now, emergency lighting has been utilized in such as commercial an governmental buildings wherein it is unlikely that power will be out for such a long period of time that the batteries for providing the back-up power will freeze. The state of the art units typically are recommended for temperature ranges of about 0° C. to about 50° C. Unit contained emergency fluorescent lighting is now so reliable and common that it is being considered for such as smaller out buildings, garages, outside staircases and warehouses where the building (or fluorescent unit) is unheated, or if subjected to prolonged power outage during winter, the internal environment may cool to 0° C. or lower. After a prolonged time at below freezing temperatures, the battery internal to the emergency ballast is likely to freeze. The problem arises when normal AC power is restored and the battery charging circuit of the unit attempts to recharge the battery. With the inclusion of the present invention, emergency fluorescent lighting may be extended to an operating range of about −20° C. to about 50° C.

Emergency fluorescent lighting has now advanced to the state of art wherein compact lamps as well as conventional (large) fluorescent lamps are finding application in extreme low temperature sites, particularly those where operation of the lamp, as well as the emergency ballast, are disadvantageously effected. Compact Fluorescent lamps present special issues when operated in low power ranges, and operation of such lamps in colder than normal settings causes permanent and rapid deterioration of the lamp. Among the observed problems are cathode instability including sputtering and the deposit of a pink haze on the glass envelope of the lamp.

Compact fluorescent lamps are designed to be operated on a-c current and at rated power, i.e., about 42 Watts. In emergency operation in conjunction with an emergency ballast, all fluorescent lamps are operated at power levels that are considerably below rated, and in the instance of the compact lamp, anywhere between about 7 to about 12 Watts, depending upon the particular lamp. Likewise, the emergency operating current is supplied by a battery in the ballast, and is a variety of a pulsating d-c current except compact lamps operate more efficiently with AC current. It has become evident that the degree of heating generated by the normal AC current at a level of around 7–12 Watts of output is nowhere close to the level in emergency mode for generating sufficient heat energy to sustain a satisfactory continuing operation for a compact lamp in a severely low temperature environment.

It is likewise known that rechargeable batteries such as the nickel-cadmium type typically used in fluorescent emergency lighting systems have difficulties in charging when frozen. Charging may be erratic, and at times at rates much higher than the rate recommended by manufacturers for safe operation. There is also a danger that during the charging process that volatile gasses, particularly hydrogen, may build-up and pose the threat of explosion. The present invention provides a heating mechanism for the rechargeable battery which keeps it at a suitable charging temperature during normal operation whether the installation site building is heated or not, enabling the use of the unit in unheated or lesser heated facilities. Further, the heater circuit addition includes means for connecting the charging circuit to a dummy load while the battery comes up to suitable temperature for charging, while keeping the appropriate relays connected so that upon the resumption of AC power, the normal fluorescent lighting may be powered by the AC main power. Once the battery temperature is sensed to be at a sufficient level for safe charging, the charging circuit is switched to the battery from the dummy load so as to fully recharge the battery. In conjunction with these improvements useful for standard or large sized fluorescent lamps, the present invention related to compact fluorescent lamps includes providing an additional cathode heating current to at least one of the filaments of the compact lamp, which filament is provided with a current (a-c, preferably or d-c) at a level of about 3 to 4 volts. The heating current may be supplied from a separate battery or the battery supplying the current to illuminate the fluorescent lamp during emergency operation

Those skilled in the art will recognize that alternative approaches to the preferred embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an emergency ballast for operation of a compact fluorescent lamp in extreme temperature conditions where the battery powering the emergency ballast and emergency fluorescent lamp becomes frozen and requires heating to a recognized minimum temperature before safe recharging may be initiated.

The primary objective of the present invention is to ensure stable operation of the compact lamp while operating in the emergency mode. Extremely cold temperatures affect operation of the lamp during the low power operation in the emergency phase, causing, among other problems, cathode sputtering and the deposition of a pink haze on the interior of the glass envelope of the lamp.

Another one of the objectives of the present invention is to cause the internal battery of the compact fluorescent emergency ballast to remain in its normal operating temperature range during the time that main AC power is supplied to the compact fluorescent lamp.

A further objective of the present invention is to delay the recharging of the battery in the emergency ballast after a loss of main AC power during extreme cold wherein the internal temperature of the battery has dropped below the recommended operating temperature, or has frozen, and the battery is heated to a permissible operating range before recharging current is applied.

A further objective of the present invention is the inclusion of the described delay in energizing the battery when its internal temperature is below recommended, and the inclusion of enabling circuitry to cause the fluorescent fixture to illuminate on the return of main AC power, irrespective of the ambient temperature.

A further objective of the present invention is the inclusion of a delay of the operation of the normal ac ballast for the lamp after line voltage has been restored to the circuit.

These and other objectives will be evident from the detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiments provided below.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a preferred embodiment of an emergency ballast according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an alternative embodiment of an emergency ballast according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a further aspect of an emergency ballast according to the present invention, showing the power line connection.

FIG. 4 is a further alternative embodiment of an emergency ballast according to the present invention however, having a supplemental battery for cathode heating.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention is illustrated in the context of a conventional fluorescent lamp including an emergency ballast for standby lighting during a period when the main AC power fails. FIG. 1 illustrates the circuit diagram of an emergency ballast according to the present invention which is connected to a conventional compact fluorescent ballast (not shown—see FIG. 3) for providing emergency lighting in the event of main AC power failure.

The circuitry for an emergency ballast B is illustrated in FIG. 1, as adapted with the components for meeting the objectives stated above. If a standard compact fluorescent ballast be shown, its output would be connected to the fluorescent lamp LAMP, in parallel with the output of the emergency ballast I_(o and through its K1C and K2C relay contacts). This system includes an input/charging circuit I_(n) which provides charging current to the battery BT1 and disables the emergency operation mode, i.e., places it in standby during the period that AC power is being supplied. The input/charging circuit has first and second input terminals J-1 and J-2, respectively, connectable to standard AC voltage sources such as 120 AC and 277 volts AC. Inclusion of alternative voltage connections enables the system to be selectively connected to either standard commercial voltage AC (277 volts AC) or normal residential voltage (120 volts AC). Common, or ground potential, connector J-3 completes the A.C. power connections to the system input.

The two A.C. supply voltage terminals J-1 and J-2 and the common terminal J-3 are connected to the AC inputs of a rectifier D1 (which in the preferred embodiment is a full wave rectifier), the high voltage (277 v. AC) input terminal J-2 being connected by means of a series arrangement of a first circuit composed of a capacitor, C1, and a resistor, R17, and a second circuit composed of a capacitor, C2, and a resistor, R18. The lower voltage (e.g. 120 volts AC) terminal is connected to rectifier D1, only via the second circuit including C2 and R8. The capacitors in the circuits serve to limit the charging current supplied to rectifier D1 to a level consistent with the requirements for a charging current to battery BT1. The resistors are included as a safety measure to limit the discharge of power from the capacitors after the A.C. power is removed from the circuits.

In a first embodiment (FIG. 1), the DC output from rectifier D1 is supplied to battery BT1 through the coils of two relays, K1A and K2A, and a diode D4. A resistor R19 is connected in parallel with coils K1A and K2A to assure proper current flowing through the K1A and K2A relay coils. A resistor R18 is connected in series with an LED indicator to show the charging status of the emergency ballast B.

In an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the output from rectifier D1 is supplied to battery BT1 through coils of three relays, K4A, K1A and K2A. Current limiting resistor R29 is connected in series with light emitting diode indicator LED to show the charging status of emergency battery BT1. Relay coil K4A operates contacts K4 which are in the AC supply for the AC ballast (FIG. 3) when the AC power is reestablished such that the emergency ballast ceases supplying current to the lamp LAMP, the transient AC load on contacts K1B, K1C and K2C is removed, thereby prolonging their life by reducing the arcing which occurs on the opening of the contacts. As shown in FIG. 3, the AC ballast is connected to the building AC supply in series with a conventional wall switch W. Relay K4 interrupts the AC supply to the ac ballast as described below when the battery BTR1 is sensed as being outside its operating limits.

Battery BT1 may be composed of, for example, a high temperature nickel-cadmium battery. In the described embodiment, battery BT1 in the embodiment of FIG. 1 is comprised of four D cells providing 4.8 volts and the battery BT1 in the embodiment of FIG. 2 is comprised of seven C cells and provides nominal voltage of 8.4 volts. Alternate battery configurations are possible, dictated by the power requirements of load LAMP and size of the battery space available in the emergency ballast.

As should be appreciated, the output circuit I_(o) of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a secondary transformer winding S for powering the lamp LAMP, (from a primary winding P, a feedback winding F on the inverter side of the transformer T) and a supplemental secondary winding S₁ for providing a cathode heating current to stabilize the illumination output of the compact fluorescent lamp when operating in emergency mode. The output circuit I_(o) also provides switching by switches K1B and K1C and K2C between normal lamp operation (K1A and K2A coils energized) and the emergency ballast mode (K1A and K2A coils de-energized) during which time the AC power is not available. The output circuit I_(o) in this embodiment is composed of a capacitor C7 connected in series with the secondary winding S and the Lamp and capacitors C4 and C5 connected in parallel. As may be observed by those skilled in the art, the output circuit I_(o) is remarkably simple in that the output circuit of the emergency ballast B provides only that current limiting and cathode heating necessary to keep the compact fluorescent lamp within a stable operating range in extreme cold temperatures so as to provide for a maximized operating cycle during the emergency mode. An alternative embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1 may include a time delay circuit Td to allow the K1B, K1C and K2C relay contacts to open before allowing the AC ballast to power the lamp LAMP. In the illustrated embodiment, the provided delay is in the order of five seconds, however the length of time may be more or less, depending on particular lamp characteristics and operating choice.

The output circuit I_(o) illustrated in the alternative embodiment of FIG. 2 includes a secondary winding S of transformer T having a primary winding P and a feedback winding F on the inverter circuit I_(v) side of transformer T. Output circuit I_(o) provides current limiting to the fluorescent lamp load LAMP only to the degree that is necessary to keep the lamp within its normal operating limits. The output I_(o) circuit also provides switching by switches K1B and K1C and K2B between normal lamp operation (K1A and K2A energized) and the emergency ballast mode (K1A and K2A de-energized) during which the AC power is not available. The output circuit I_(o) is composed of a capacitor, C6, connected in series with the output of the secondary winding, S, of transformer T1. Capacitors C7 and C8 are connected across the secondary winding of T1 (to provide a load upon the inverter I_(v) in the unusual event no other load be present, and in series with the fluorescent lamp LAMP which the output circuit I_(o) powers.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 discloses a separate battery system for providing cathode heating current, should a particular compact lamp application be improved by the addition of the resource.

Referring now to FIG. 1, in emergency mode, emergency power is supplied to load LAMP by battery BT1 through the operation of inverter circuit Iv and I_(o). The operation of the inverter circuit I_(v) is placed in operation enabling the oscillation of switching transistors Q1 and Q2. Those familiar with fluorescent lighting will recognize that an application of an initial voltage of about 100 to as much as approximately 600 volts (depending upon lamp size) may be required to initiate the ignition of the gasses in the standard compact fluorescent lamp. Immediately after ignition, as battery BT1 through coil L1 and resistors R17 and R18 supplies base current to Q1 and Q2, as later discussed, the current regulating capacitors C4 or C5 in the output circuit I_(o) regulate the current level to that required to operate the fluorescent lamp at reduced illumination typical of fluorescent emergency lamps.

The inverter I_(v) constitutes a current-fed, self-resonant, switch-mode converter supply, also known as a push-pull converter which includes primary P and feedback F windings of transformer T1, the transformer having an inductance setting gap in its core. Transformer T1 is composed of a center tapped primary winding P, a feedback winding F and a high-voltage secondary winding S, composed of a large number of turns of fine magnet wire. Secondary winding S₁ is composed of a low number of turns, i.e., three turns in the illustrated embodiment, and of similar 25 gauge wire for this application. Two transistors, Q1 and Q2, are connected so that the emitter/collector pad of each is connected between a respective end of the primary winding P and feedback winding F and the negative terminal battery BT1 as shown. A low-voltage feedback winding, F, of transformer T1 is connected between the bases of transistors Q1 and Q2 to provide positive feedback from winding F to cause Q1 and Q2 to alternately switch the battery current through primary winding P1 creating the alternating current in secondary winding S.

Battery heater H is connected to main AC supply J1 or J2 and common J3 and in the illustrated embodiment is composed of a sequential line of heater resistors R (R1 through R 10), physically disposed over an area above which the battery BT1 is positioned such that the heat dissipated by the AC current flowing through the heater resistors R rises to warm battery BT1. Included in series with heater resistors R is heater switch HS1, which in the illustrated embodiment is a simple bimetallic switch, such as a Phillips/Air Pak 67LO40, which operates to control the flow of current through the heater resistors R1 to R10 so that when the ambient temperature at the switch reaches a level where heating of e battery BT1 will extend its operating range, as in event the temperature around the fluorescent fixture should drop below the recommended operating limits for the battery. In the illustrated embodiment, heater switch HS closes at about 25° C. initiating AC current flow and opens at about 40° C., suspending heater H operation. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, should main AC power fail, there will be no functioning of the heater H, irrespective of the open or closed position of heater switch HS.

Charge control circuit C regulates charging of battery BT1 to occur only during those periods when the battery BT1 is at a suitable temperature to be safely and effectively charged. Inclusion of control circuit C enables the utilization of fluorescent emergency ballasts in environments not previously considered suitable for effective operation of the emergency ballasts. Control circuit C includes diode D2 (a 7–15 V Zener diode, depending upon the battery BT1 voltage) across the output of rectifier D1 to limit potentially damaging high voltage when the K3A contacts are switching. Control circuit including resistor R16, relay coil K3B, charge activation switch Q5, and temperature sensor and controller TC1 and precision resistor R15 (for setting the temperature value for activation). Relay coil K3B activates switch K3A when current flows through coil K3B by virtue of temperature controller TC1 activating switch Q5 to close the circuit to rectifier D1. Battery BT1 is then connected to rectifier D1 so that the charging current will flow and recharge the battery BT1. In the illustrated embodiment, temperature sensor and controller TC1 is physically located on the ballast circuit board (not shown) which is under the battery BT1 package. TC1 is disposed adjacent the battery BT1 in order to sense the temperature of the battery BT1. As previously described, heater H operates (so long as AC power is being supplied to ballast B) when switch S1 is below 40° C. to bring battery BT1 to a safe charging temperature. TC1 senses the battery BT1 temperature and actuates when heat generated in heater H has raised the temperature of battery to a safe charging level (around 0° C.) thereby causing transistor Q5 to conduct and cause a current to flow through relay coil K3B and activate switch K3A to connect the charging current of rectified D1 to battery BT1. Since rectifier D1, upon return of main AC current, will only be connected to battery BT1 by switch K3A when the temperature of the battery BT1, as measured by TC1 adjacent the battery, charging will only occur when battery BT1 is at a temperature for safe and effective charging.

In the embodiment described above and illustrated in the FIG. 1, the following components were utilized:

Designator Description Component value/description C1 capacitor 4.0 uF/3.3 uF C2 capacitor 6.0 uF/4.4 uF C3 capacitor 220 uF/25 VDC C4 capacitor 0.1 uF/100 VDC C5 capacitor 220 pF/2 kV C6 capacitor 220 pF/2 kV C7 capacitor 470 pF/3 kV C8 capacitor 390 uF/3 kV R1–R10 resistor 150Ω/2 W R11 resistor 10MΩ/0.25 W R12 resistor 10MΩ/0.25 W R13 resistor 180Ω/0.25 W R14 resistor 10kΩ/0.25 W R15 resistor 107KΩ/0.25 W (1%) R16 resistor 620Ω/0.25 W (1%) R17–R18 resistor 180Ω/0.5 W R19 resistor 110Ω/1 W R21 resistor 10KΩ/0.25 W R22 resistor 4.7Ω/0.25 W D1 diode bridge 1 A, 600 V D2 Zener diode, 10 V/5 W D3, D4 diode, 1N9005 1 A, 600 V K1A, K2A DPDT relay 3 V, 166 mA coil K3 SPDT relay 5 V, 370Ω coil K4 DPDT relay 5 V, 90 ma coil Q1, Q2 transistor ZTX-851 60 V, 5.0 A Q5 mosfet VN2222 60 V, 0.15 A BT nickel-cadmium battery 4.8 V, 4 D cell BT2 nickel-cadmium battery 3.6 V, 700 mAh (KR-AAH) HS1 thermostat switch Phillips/AirPax 67LO40 TC1 temperature control TC622EPA T1 E187 inverter transformer: Winding Wire Number Description GA of Turns Secondary 35 650 Secondary 1 25 3 Primary 23 4 Primary 23 4 Feedback 25 2

The disclosed embodiment is to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Several embodiments are described and illustrated and suggest that there are others within the scope of the invention which meet particular requirements of an application which do not depart from the scope of the invention. The output of the disclosed embodiments is an AC current for driving compact fluorescent lamps, as compared to a variable DC illustrated in the related patent. These are matters of design choice prompted by the characteristics of the lamp being driven. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing descriptions and other embodiments which come into the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be included within the scope thereof. 

1. A fluorescent type emergency lighting ballast including circuit means for emergency operation of a fluorescent lamp having a cathode heater with power supplied by a battery, when power normally supplied to said fluorescent lamp from a standard fluorescent AC ballast, powered by normal AC power mains is interrupted and the lamp's standard fluorescent ballast is disabled, comprising: a) a rectifier charging circuit adapted to be connected to be powered by the normal AC power supply to the standard fluorescent ballast during normal operation of the normal AC power supply, said charging circuit disconnectably connected to said battery while the normal AC power supply is providing AC power to the lamp; b) an inverter disconnectably connected to said battery upon disenabling of said rectifier charging circuit charging said battery, the output of said inverter switchably oscillating a voltage of said battery to create an AC output current, and including a transformer to step up said inverter created AC voltage to a predetermined level to operate the fluorescent lamp, said inverter disconnectably connected to the fluorescent lamp during a period said inverter is powered by said battery; wherein said transformer of said inverter has a supplemental secondary winding disconnectably connected to the cathode heater for providing a continuing current to the cathode heater during the period said inverter is powered by said battery; and c) a battery charging control circuit connected to the rectifier charging circuit and the battery, the control circuit including a temperature sensitive switch disposed adjacent the battery, said switch disconnecting the charging circuit from the battery when the temperature sensed by the switch is below a predetermined level; whereby the battery is charged only when it is at or above the temperature sensed by the switch.
 2. The emergency ballast of claim 1 wherein said ballast includes a heater having a heating element disposed adjacent the battery charged by the charging circuit and the heating element supplies heat to the battery so long as the normal AC power is supplied to the rectifier charging circuit.
 3. The emergency ballast of claim 2 wherein said heater has a heating element comprising a network of heat generating electrical devices disposed adjacent to the battery.
 4. The emergency ballast of claim 3 wherein said heating element network includes active heat generating temperature controlled devices.
 5. The emergency ballast of claim 3 wherein said heating element network includes passive heat generating temperature controlled devices.
 6. The emergency ballast of claim 3 wherein said heater is comprised of a series of electrical resistors disposed adjacent the battery.
 7. The emergency ballast of claim 2 wherein said heater has a heating element comprising a resistive wire disposed adjacent to the battery.
 8. The emergency ballast of claim 2 wherein said heater has a heating element comprising a foil heating strip disposed adjacent to the battery.
 9. The emergency ballast of claim 1 wherein said fluorescent emergency ballast includes a time delay circuit which delays a return of normal AC power to the AC ballast for a predetermined period of time after normal AC power is again supplied.
 10. The emergency ballast of claim 1 wherein said ballast includes a second recharging circuit and a second battery recharged by said recharging circuit, powered by normal AC power supply, said second recharging circuit disconnected from said second battery while normal AC power is interrupted and said battery is then disconnectably connected to said cathode heater. 